Columban Fr John Hegerty gets his stamp from the Mini Vinnies while Principal Shane Byrne looks on. Photo: Jacqui Russell
The St Vincent de Paul Walkathon is usually held each year as part of the children's mission to support the work of the Church. The school has a longstanding partnership with the Columban Mission Centre and in 2025, raised $4,000AUD towards mission in countries like Pakistan, Peru, and Chile. It is encouraging to see teachers and students contributing towards Church mission through an activity that promotes physical and spiritual wellbeing.
Can you imagine 450 children running and walking around a city block to support children in need in other countries? That’s exactly what happened when St Vincent’s Primary School in Strathmore organised a walkathon to raise funds for Columban mission.
Accompanied by their teachers, the students took on the challenge of completing as many laps as possible around the block. For every lap completed, they received a stamp on their cards from the Mini Vinnies - a dedicated group of grade 5 students who lead school activities to support people in need. The goal was simple: the more laps they completed, the more stamps they collected in support of a good cause!
Columban Co-Worker Jacqui Russell and myself joined the walkathon on behalf of the Columbans and even collected a couple of stamps each.
With so much excitement, it was clear that everyone had a great time! It was wonderful to see students, parents, and teachers coming together to support children and communities facing hardship around the world.
A big thank you to Principal Shane Byrne and his team of teachers for organising such a fantastic event and warmly welcoming the Columbans. It was a great example of how a little effort from a whole school community can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those in need around the world.
Columban Fr. John Hegerty lives at St Columban’s, Essendon.
Related links
- Read more from the current Columban eBulletin
